Use of electronic cigarettes among young people Youth

Use of electronic cigarettes among young people Youth Smokefree GB Survey, 2016. You. Gov, commissioned by ASH

Introduction • These slides report the results from the annual Youth • • Smokefree GB Survey carried out by You. Gov for ASH. All figures, unless otherwise stated, come from surveys carried out in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The total sample sizes were: 2016: 2, 331, 2015: 2, 291, 2014: 2, 068, 2013: 2, 178. The survey is carried out online. For more information please contact admin@smokefreeaction. org. uk

What we’re going to cover 1. 2. 3. 4. What is an electronic cigarette? Use of e-cigarettes among young people. Use by smoking status. Frequency, type and flavouring of products used. 5. Perceptions of harm.

What is an electronic cigarette?

What is an electronic cigarette? In general an electronic cigarette is a battery powered device which delivers nicotine. It typically contains water, nicotine and propylene glycol [which is used to help vaporise the liquid nicotine]. It is does not contain or burn tobacco and therefore does not create smoke which is a product of combustion. • A typical electronic cigarettes consists of three main components: 1. a battery 2. an atomiser (heating element) 3. a cartridge containing nicotine

Use of e-cigarettes among young people

Use of e-cigarettes among young people 2013 -16 100% 95% 92% 90% 87% 88% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 11% 10% 4% 6% 0% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0% I have never used them/ not I have tried them once or I use them sometimes I use them often (more than aware of e-cigarettes twice / I use them (more than once a month) once a week) sometimes, but no more than once a month’ 2013 2014 2015 2016 Don't want to say

Use of e-cigarettes by age 2016 120% 100% 1% 3% 1% 9% 1% 6% 1% 1% 18% 80% 60% 96% 90% 93% 40% 79% 20% 0% 11 to 13 14 to 15 11 to 15 I have never used them/ not aware of e-cigarettes I have tried them once or twice I use them sometimes (more than once a month) I use them often (more than once a week) Don't want to say 16 to 18

Summary • Whilst awareness and use of e-cigarettes among young people has increased from 2013 – 2016, regular use, more than once a month, remains low at 1% in 2016. • Likelihood that a young person has tried an e-cigarette increases across the age bracket with 18% of 16 -18 year olds reporting to have tried e-cigarettes compared to 3% of 11 -13 year olds.

Use by smoking status

Use of e-cigarettes by smoking status 2016 250% 200% 150% 100% 50% 0% I have never used I have tried them/ not aware of once or twice e-cigarettes Current smoker Ex-smoker Never smoker 31% 67% 95% 38% 28% 4% Never smoker I use them often sometimes (no sometimes (more than once a Don't want to say more than once a month) week) month) 11% 5% 13% 2% 3% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% Ex-smoker Current smoker

Order of use between real cigarettes and e-cigarettes 80% 70% 64% 60% 57% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 29% 22% 18% 8% 9% 10% 4% 3% 3% 0% 2014 2015 I tried smoking a real cigarette before I first tried using an e-cigarette I tried using an e-cigarette before I first tried smoking a real cigarette I have never smoked a real cigarette but have tried an e-cigarette I don't remember 2016

Summary • While current or regular use of e-cigarettes is rare, it is also almost entirely confined to those who have already tried smoking or are current smokers. • In 2016 regular use, more than once a week was reported at 13% among current smokers compared to 0% among never smokers. • While the graphs illustrate an increase in the number of never smokers who have tried an ecigarette, from 18% in 2014 to 29% in 2016, it is important to remember in 2016 just 10% of young people had ever tried vaping.

Frequency, type and flavouring of products used.

2016 lic ho k in dr ur vo fla 2015 e, fe e ix 1% M ur ) ils vo fla ta ck co ur 2%3% of or vo fla ur vo fla 3% C er be o cc ba to lla 6% 3% in ol th en 3% . w . g (e M s ur vo 9% ni fla ur k in vo fla dr 15% 12% Va er th cc o ft so ur 3% O ba or vo la 5% To k in dr tf in ur 6% 4% co gy er /m ol vo fla 10% En th en o N ow kn ur ur vo vo fla 't on D y la tf ui nd ca Fr 13% M t, ee w , s rts se es 20% al , d te la 50% An co ho C Flavour of e-cigarette last used by those who have tried but do not currently. Chart use Title e-cigarettes 60% 52% 49% 40% 30% 1% 2% 0%

lic ho co k in dr ur vo fla in . w . g (e e, 2016 2015 on 't w o s ix 3% 1% M sa y ur vo tt an fla ur 1% D er th 2% O vo fla ) ils 6% 3% lla ta 5% ck co ur 5% ni or vo fla ur 6% Va er be o vo ur 7% fla vo fla 25% N e fe of C cc o ur vo fla ur 7% ba y nd ca vo ur vo la tf in /m ol fla 7%6% To t, ee w th o k in 5% , s rts se es en M cc ba dr 10% al , d te la to ft so ow kn 11% An co ho ol or 't 13% C th en k in dr on 15% M gy D ur vo 40% er la tf ui 45% En Fr Preferred flavour of e-cigarette for current users 42% 36% 35% 30% 23% 20% 13% 1%2% 1% 0%

Summary • Among both current and former e-cigarette users fruit flavours are the most popular, for example, among current users 36% report fruit as their preferred flavour in 2016. • However, vapers are using a wide range of flavours including tobacco.

Perceptions on harm

Perceptions of harm from e-cigarettes compared with smoking 2013 -16 80% 74% 70% 66% 67% 63% 60% 50% 40% 30% 21% 23% 18% 20% 14% 11% 10% 1% 2% 2% 3% 0% More harmful About the same 2013 Less harmful 2014 2015 2016 Don't know 11%

Summary • Overall it is encouraging that a clear majority of young people correctly identify vaping as less harmful than smoking. • However, what is concerning is the increase in the number of young people who believe that vaping is about as harmful as smoking – increasing by more than 10% between 2013 and 2016. • This need to be monitored and it is important that young people are given accurate information about the relative risks of vaping and smoking.